False Notes

Published:PravdaNo. 55, March 7, 1913.

      Signed:V.I..

      Published according to thePravdatext.Source:Lenin
	  Collected Works,

      Progress Publishers,[1975],

      Moscow,Volume 18,

      pages588-589.Translated:Stepan ApresyanTranscription\Markup:R. CymbalaPublic Domain:Lenin Internet Archive

      (2004).You may freely copy, distribute,
	display and perform this work; as well as make derivative and
	commercial works. Please credit “Marxists Internet
	Archive” as your source.•README

Mr.Milyukov’sDuma speech on universal suffrage was of
outstanding interest because he had to touch on a number of subjects of
prime importance to democrats.

Ourpress in general, including the liberal press, is becoming more and
more addicted to the abominably unprincipled habit of disposing of Duma
speeches by commenting on them in glowing (Mr. Litovtsev inRech)
or abusive terms, withouteveranalysing theirideologicalcontent!

Theworkers do not believe in bourgeois political chicanery. They want
tolearnpolitics. In response to this desire of theirs, we shall
attempt an analysis of Mr. Milyukov’s speech.

“You,”said Mr. Milyukov, addressing himselfall
   the timeto the Octobrists, “are not linked with authority either by
   specific commitments or even by gratitude”,

“You,”said Mr. Milyukov, addressing himselfall
   the timeto the Octobrists, “are not linked with authority either by
   specific commitments or even by gratitude”,

forthe elections, you say, were rigged against you.

Mr.Milyukov,one of the most educated Cadets, a professor, editor,
etc., put forward this argument in the most earnest way, and even added:

“Apparentlythere is no social stratum in Russia
   supporting the present government policy...” (RossiyaNo. 2236).

“Apparentlythere is no social stratum in Russia
   supporting the present government policy...” (RossiyaNo. 2236).

Thefalsity of this argument is glaring. None other than Mr. Milyukov
himself went on to quote the Frenchman Chasles, who very justly says that
the “crux of the matter” “is the agrarian questions”.

“Toobtain a conservative Third Duma,” says Chasles,
   “the majority had to be shifted from the peasants to the landlords.... The
   landed proprietors and the aristocracy of wealth can form a bloc of
   five-eighthsof the votes [in the elections to the Duma under our electoral law] and the
   minority can literally be crushed: the peasants, the middle classes and the
   town democrats are invited by the legislator to look on at the elections
   and not make them, to attend but not participate in them.”

“Toobtain a conservative Third Duma,” says Chasles,
   “the majority had to be shifted from the peasants to the landlords.... The
   landed proprietors and the aristocracy of wealth can form a bloc of
   five-eighthsof the votes [in the elections to the Duma under our electoral law] and the
   minority can literally be crushed: the peasants, the middle classes and the
   town democrats are invited by the legislator to look on at the elections
   and not make them, to attend but not participate in them.”

Thereactionary Chasles argues cleverly and correctly. We thank
Mr. Milyukov for his interesting quotations whichdefeatMr. Milyukov’s phrase-mongering! In Russia there evidentlyisa
social “stratum” (the class of landlords—feudal lords or feudal-minded
landlords) which supports the policy of the government and is linked
“with authority” by the bonds of class interests. As for being
linked by “commitments” and “gratitude”, it is perfect
nonsense. Remember that, learned Cadet!

Inour next
			       article[1]we shall show how this learned Cadet circled—like a cat round hot
milk—about the “crux of the matter” (i.e., the agrarian
question), which the reactionary Chasles correctly pointed out.

[1]Seepp. 590–91 of this volume.–Ed.  —Lenin